Plot: The Surfer and the Coroner are sprawled on the ground of the
desert. The Surfer awakes confused. He ponders his time spent in the Macroverse and
wonders where it is that he has awoken. He is relieved to discover he is back on Earth. He
remembers The Mergence. "Was my attempt to stop them successful? Did I repel the
attack?" His mind echoes with these questions as he gathers himself off the sands of
the burning desert. On his board he rises to the sky, searching the heavens for a sign of
his foes or his lover, Alicia Masters. But there is none. He streaks down to the curled
and motionless body of the Coroner. The power cosmic radiates from his hand as he places
it upon the head of this traitor to humanity. Probing the old man's mind, he finds only
madness. Silverado turns to Tenebrae's ship for answers to Alicia's where abouts. Nothing
matters but finding Alicia. Guilt overwhelms him. He is ashamed of his rationalizations
for continuing to surf the cosmic oceans of the Macroverse. Repressing his feelings, he
plunges deeper into the crashed space ship. He finds the machine the Mergence used to fold
Alicia & himself into that parallel universe. Anger boils within him as he reflects on
how they were used and manipulated. His fists power up to blast the offending machine to
oblivion. Sudden insight, the Surfer realizes the intimate link between this technology
and Tenebrae's consciousness. Probing the quantum layers of the machine, he finds her, in
the microverse called Sub-atomica.

Tenebrae finds herself cut off from the group consciousness of the
Mergence. She is confused and frightened. She has never been alone before. She searches
for cy-phyrr-4. Alicia continues to battle the swarm of bimechanical creatures attacking
her and the alien droid. To help maintain her grip on her fears, Alicia pretends she is
Sigourney Weaver in the "Alien" movies.

She drives them away, giving her incapacitated cybernetic companion
time to recooperate. Thinking it is "dying" Alicia holds its hand.

Silverado traces Tenebrae's consciousness through the machine.
Channeling his own quantum energies into the coroner's cane he "jump starts" the
machine. Reactivating the portal, he travels into Sub-atomica. He follows the psychic
trail imprinted on the cosmic winds by Tenebrae.

A swift and massive ship approaches Tenebrae's craft. A
communication is sent by the overwhelming craft. "Alien craft--surrender...or
DIE." In vain she tries to escape. Her weapons have no effect. A tractor beam locks
on and pulls her inside. She waits. Naked terror envelopes her and she passes out.
Towering over her the amoured figure of PSYCHO-MAN. His stimulation of her fear-centers
have driven the once powerful representative of the Mergence into psychic shock. Scanning
her mind he takes her away, so they can "become better aquatinted."

Cy-phyrr-4, after laying still many hours reassembles himself, much
to Alicia's shock & joy. The machine-man is unimpressed by her sentiments on his
recovery. It has become aware of Tenebrae's energy-probe, searching for him. Cy-phyrr-4
states Tenebrae is in danger & he must go to her. "What about me?" says
Alicia. "You are useless to me... ...in your current configuration," comes the
cold reply.

Having traced Tenebrae's ship the Surfer is confronted by the
unexpected: a second ship! Vowing not to be discouraged Silverado approaches the craft. A
robotic construct emerges. It attacks. The Surfer fires a massive blast in defense, but to
no avail, it is protected by a quantum force-field. A myriad of mechanical tentacles
menace the Surfer and finally attach themselves to his skull. He screams, "GET OUT OF
MY MIND!" In his brain, he hears Alicia screaming, dying. He "sees" her
eyes-- devoid of life and hope, piercing his soul and damning him with unspoken
accusations. The unbearable guilt explodes in shards of light and pain. The Surfer is
grateful when unconsciousness claims him.

Psycho-Man musses on his good fortune. First The Mergence, now a
herald of Galactus. Tenebrae listlessly rolls her head toward the Silverado and gasps
"surfer...help me! Don't let him hurt me any more!" A malignant reply from
Psycho-man rolls around the room " Unfortunately, my dear-- the Silver Surfer is in
no position to help anyone-- except perhaps... ME.

Comments: Despite the guest penciler the style is very much like
Muth's. The story is well written. Although Alicia Master's a tough girl like Sigourney
Weaver in Aliens?? NOT!! Sorry I don't buy a blind girl with a big gun laying waste to
bio-mechanical attackers! Sub-atomica!!!! Very cool! Cosmic power points for this return
of the Surfer's to this microverse! Psycho-Man!!! Bonus cosmic power points for the return
of an old FF villain! I feel the beginning of the story is a bit choppy. The Surfer
calling Alicia his beloved grates on me. What ever happened to his undying love for
Shalla-Bal? When the Surfer says "my beloved" I still see the beauteous
Shalla-Bal! Call me (cough) a hopeless romantic! This is one of DeMatteis's better
endeavors as the pen behind the Surfer.

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